Session 3

Case Number: VET-001.003

Scene Carry Over Notes:

• Starting Location: F6 → The Gilded Archive
• Shift: 6 (4am - 8am)
• Scene Tags: Fortified
  • Character Tags: Refreshed, Well Fed
• Previous Scene Level: 5

Scene:

• Level: 7 Formidable ← (1d6+2: [5]+2 = 7)
• TP: 3
• Weather: Sudden cold snap
• Season: 20th Day of Spring
• Day of the Week: Friday
• Phase of the Moon: Last Quarter (day 2)

Shifts on the 20th:

• 6:
• 1:
• 2:
• 3:
• 4:
• 5:

Mission Clocks

• Plan:
• Location:

The Gilded Archive

• Level 3 Demanding ← (1d8+2: [1]+2 = 3)

I arrived at the Gilded Archive at 6:30 on the dot. The library would open at 8am. I wouldn't find what I was looking for but that was an hour and a half of me seeing things as they were.

Entrance

• Tall Ladders ← (1d6: [2] = 2)

Q: Is Dr. Thorne here?
Oracle
DC 15 → 11 » Yes, but
Effect, Sister, Love

aiEvaluationDr. Thorne is indeed present within the archives, though his presence is complicated by an unexpected emotional entanglement involving a sister and a deep-seated sense of love. This sudden revelation exerts a disruptive effect on the investigation, casting a shadow over the search for truth.
Q: Is this his sister?
Oracle
DC 15 → 2 » No, but
Language, Scary, Illuminate

aiEvaluationNox realizes the woman is not Dr. Thorne's sister, but her presence is profoundly unsettling. She mutters in a cryptic, unrecognizable language that feels predatory, even as a sudden, eerie light illuminates the shadows around her to reveal something far more frightening.
Q: Is she a sister of some religious organization?
Oracle
DC 12 → 7 » Yes, but
Sceptre, Child, Operation

aiEvaluationNox realizes the woman does indeed belong to a religious order, yet her presence is clearly part of a much more calculated and unsettling operation. The sight of a ceremonial scepter and the involvement of a young child suggest that this sect's true purpose is far more ritualistic—and dangerous—than mere worship.

Once inside the Gilded Archive I found Dr. Thorne talking emphatically with a woman. The sceptre she bore pulled at me. Something inside reacted to the sight. It was a strange feeling.

I didn't interrupted the conversation instead focused on what I could see of the interior of the library.

noteThe woman is part of the Shattered Axis

Task: Investigate the patterns and entrance

• Hindered by Ritualistic Hyper Focus
• Eased by Perceives patterns & forensic education x2
  Task
  DC 3 → 4 » Success

Q: Are there any indications of where the problem is?
Oracle
DC 12 → 4 » No, but
Rope, Boy, Decayed

aiEvaluationNox finds no direct evidence pointing toward the source of the disturbance, yet his eyes are drawn to a more unsettling discovery. A length of decaying rope lies discarded near a small, forgotten boy's toy, a grim remnant that offers no answers but leaves him deeply unsettled.

The entrance gave me no clues as to where I needed to search first. So I waited until the woman left. The whole place set me off kilter. It was giving off a weird vibe.

Tag Scene: Strange Vibe

Q: Does Dr. Thorne give me a direction to start when we speak?
Oracle
DC 12 → 8 » Yes, but
Sleep, Bones, Silver

aiEvaluationDr. Thorne provides a direction to begin the search, yet his instructions are accompanied by unsettling whispers regarding silver and ancient bones. This cryptic guidance leaves me feeling profoundly restless, as if the weight of this mystery is already destined to rob me of my sleep.
1d4: [1] = 1 → west

Dr. Thorne tells me the east archway is where I can start my investigation. He says no one is missing but there are bones so ancient left in a silver goo that he doesn't know what to make of it.

Room 1

Size: 2d6: [4, 4] = 8 + 2d6: [2, 4] = 6 6,8
Exits: 1d4-1: [2]-1 = 1
Difficulty: Easy ← (1d6: [2] = 2)
Tag: Nothing ← (1d6: [1] = 1)
Event: 1d4 Insights ← (3d6: [1, 2, 6] = 9) → 1d4: [2] = 2
Content: Trap ← (3d6: [4, 4, 4] = 12)
Doors:

• Regular locked door ← (1d6: [2] = 2)
  Secrets
  DC 15 → 1 » Fail, and
  You find find and trigger a trap.
  Insights
  DC 15 → 17 » Success
  Found a Clear Lead. Roll for Subject/Modifier. Mark 2 tallies.

Insights:

• This insight reveals information about a [Known] [NPC] regarding its [Secret]. → Harrison Campbell ← (1d6: [2] = 2)
• This insight reveals information about a [Known] [Character Arc] regarding its [Goal]. → Body for Alex ← (1d6: [6] = 6)

Trap:

• This trap is a [obvious] [mimic trap] that [when crossed or passed through] and [restrains the victim].
• This trap is a [mechanical] [explosive charge] that [when a weight is removed] and [creates an illusion of danger].

The first room was pretty ordinary. There wasn't a whole lot to notice — besides the numbers book shelves. I was drawn to a couple of books. I noted their titles and kept going. They would be helpful later, but for now they weren't going to help me with my current mission.

Q: Do I notice the obvious mimic trap?
Oracle
DC 18 → 3 » No, but
Question, King, Uninterested

aiEvaluationNox fails to detect the obvious mimic trap, his focus instead diverted by a lingering question regarding some sort of kingly figure. This preoccupation leaves him entirely uninterested in the immediate physical dangers of the room as he continues his investigation.

A painting catches my attention. Did it move? As I stepped around an object in the path, I found myself restrained — stuck in the grasp of something sticky.

Create a Unsticking spell.

• void, space, counter, localized (9) PM 0 → Level 3 (MAI 7)
• encoded (eased 1), triggered (2)

Task Trigger the spell
Spellcasting
DC 3 → 13 » Success, and
Successfully cast the spell and it eases the next roll by 1

Regular Ink depletion: 1d20: [15] = 15

Task Escape the sticky restraints

• Eased by successful cast + 1 for success and
• Hindered by Ritualistic Hyper Focus
  Task
  DC 6 → 12 » Success, and
  Mother, Natural, Native

aiEvaluationNox successfully wrenches himself from the mimic's adhesive grip, his unsticking spell working with seamless precision. This escape triggers a sudden, grounding sensation of being part of the archive’s natural, maternal pulse, as if the library itself is welcoming him as a native presence.

The archive feels alive now, like it's in sync with the magic I had learned. Or maybe something else is calling to me.

Alex gives me a wary feeling. Don't trust it!

I'm not prone to ignoring Alex's warnings.

As I look around I triggered another trap, but this one was seemingly harmless except for the loud explosion and the false fire illusions. My heart was racing.

Character Tag: Wary

But in all the traps I noticed signs of things I didn't do. Things that shouldn't be in a library.

Insight: 2 tallies in location

There is only one room to the north, and it's locked. It's a good thing I can unlock it with magic.

Create a Lockpick spell.

• order, space, control, localized (7) PM 0 → Level 2 (MAI 7)
• encoded (eased 1), triggered (2)
• hindered by ritualistic hyper focus
  Spellcasting
  DC 3 → 16 » Success, and
  Successfully cast the spell and it eases the next roll by 1

Regular Ink depletion: 1d20: [10] = 10

Task: Pick the lock

• Hindered by ritualistic hyper focus, burned palms
• eased by spell x2, detect weaknesses
  Task: Lock pick
  Task
  DC 6 → 6 » Success

Picking locks was not my favorite thing to do but the spell helped, but my hands were sore after the fine movement.

Room 2

Size: 2d6: [3, 2] = 5
Exits: 1d4-1: [2]-1 = 1
Difficulty: Normal ← (1d6: [3] = 3)
Tag: Nothing ← (1d6: [1] = 1)
Event: 1d4 Insights ← (3d6: [4, 4, 1] = 9) → 1d4: [1] = 1
Content: Trap ← (3d6: [3, 3, 6] = 12)
Doors:

• Regular locked door ← (1d6: [2] = 2)
  Secrets
  DC 15 → 1 » Fail, and
  You find find and trigger a trap.
  Insights
  DC 15 → 8 » Fail, but
  No mechanical insight. But you gain a narrative detail (flavor/mood).

Insight:

• This insight reveals information about a [Known] [Character Arc] regarding its [Location]. → Body for Alex ← (1d6: [6] = 6)

Trap:

• This trap is a [modern] [explosive charge] that [when an item is picked up] and [causes the area to collapse].
• This trap is a [enchanted] [collapsing zone] that [when an item is picked up] and [summons hostile creatures].

Task: Looking for traps

• Hindered by Ritualistic Hyper Focus
• eased by wary, perceives patters x2
  Task
  DC 6 → 5 » Success, but
  Enshrine, Boy, Fresh

aiEvaluationNox successfully scans the room for hidden triggers, but his meticulous search is interrupted by a jarring discovery. He finds a freshly prepared shrine dedicated to a young boy, its ritualistic offerings looking far too recent to be part of the archive's ancient history.

Something about this library is giving me really bad vibes. The decor seems normal, but so much of it seems familiar and I'm not sure I like it.

noteBecause of the number of children's things, I'm thinking this whole library might be part of the Shattered Axis network researching other Vas children.
Q: Can I get around the trap without disarming it?
Oracle
DC 15 → 1 » No, and
Teacher, Disease, Treacherous

aiEvaluationNox’s attempt to circumvent the explosives fails completely, triggering a treacherous chain reaction that he cannot escape. The sudden collapse feels less like an accident and more like a calculated lesson from a malevolent teacher, spreading a sense of decay through the room like a virulent disease.

It looks like the trap would trigger no matter what I tried so Is had to disarm it.

Create a Disarm spell.

• order, space, counter, localized (7) PM 0 → Level 2 (MAI 7)
• encoded (eased 1), triggered (2)
• hindered by ritualistic hyper focus
  Spellcasting
  DC 0 → 12 » Success, and
  Successfully cast the spell and it eases the next roll by 1

Task: Disarm trap

• hindered by ritualistic hyper focus
• eased by detect weakness, 2 spell and perceive patterns
  Task
  DC 0 → 9 » Success, and
  Fluttering, King, Decrepit

aiEvaluationNox successfully neutralizes the explosive charge, his spell working to stabilize the volatile mechanism. As the tension eases, he notices a fluttering, decrepit scrap of parchment caught in the device's gears, bearing the faded, unsettling image of an ancient king. This unexpected find only deepens the sense of dread permeating the archive.

When I pulled the parchment from the gears a monstrous creatures burst through the walls wailing

creatureLuminous Goremaw ([savage] [keen-eyed] [monstrosity]): This creature [inflicts suffering] and attacks with [death of touch] for [necrotic] damage. It features a unique ability to [erupt into a flurry of jagged bone shards]. It [wields a prehensile tail] and [suffers from high-frequency sounds].
Combat

Phase 1:

• Hindered by Ritualistic Hyper Focus, surprised
• Eased by wary
  Combat opening
  DC 12 → 17 » Success, and
  Ease by 2

Phase 2:
Cast Call The Echo's Call (Level 6)

• eased by TM 2, eased by blood magic 2
• hindered by Ritualistic Hyper Focus
  Spellcasting
  DC 9 → 12 » Success
  The spell goes off exactly as you expected

Take Lingering Trauma

This wound is a [weeping] [spiderweb bruise] located on [the throat] that [hinders all senses].

Compel Chase to defend me

• Eased by opening x2
• Hindered by ritualistic hyper focus
  Combat maneuver
  DC 6 → 1 » Fail, and
  Your actions failed, and you are hindered by 1
  Add Mastery

While I called Chase forward he refuses to do what he's asked. Fucking idiot!

Phase 3:

Cast Siphon Creature on the fly

• Hindered by maneuver failure, ritualistic hyper focus and on the fly
• Eased by TM: 2, Blood magic 2
  Spellcasting
  DC 12 → 10 » Success, but
  Success, but it backfires and hinders all rolls until the end of your next turn

Take Lingering Blood Magic Trauma

This wound is a [cold] [crystalline fissure] located on [the eyes] that [hinders all mental tasks].

Siphon the creature inside while it's moving

• hindered by maneuver failure, ritualistic hyper focus, hindered by backfire
• eased by essence siphon, the forced vessel

Combat strike
DC 15 → 17 » Success
Clean strike.
Ease 1 step

Phase 4:

• hindered by maneuver failure, ritualistic hyper focus, hindered by backfire and lacks martial training
• eased by light armor
  Combat counter
  DC 18 → 2 » Fail, but
  Forced to retreat, but kept your shield up.
  No Modifier

Phase 5:

• ease by 1 step
  Combat outcome
  DC 6 → 19 » Success, and
  Flawless dominance.
  Unscathed

I'd never had to defend myself like that. I glared at Chase's ghostly figure and then called him back into the vial. Thankfully that didn't require more blood. I was already going to regret what I had.

But I had the Phoenix Flame, I asked it to heal me.

Q: Does the Phoenix Flame heal me?
Oracle
DC 12 → 9 » Yes, but
Break, Rope, Area

aiEvaluationThe Phoenix Flame surges through Nox, mending his wounds with a searing, restorative heat. However, the volatile energy causes a nearby structural rope to snap and break under the sudden magical surge. This release triggers a localized collapse, sending debris raining down across the area.

The Phoenix flame is unpredictable. The flames that engulfed me caught a rope holding the trap together and set off another chain reaction topping a few book shelves — something I'd have to pay for later. But who the fuck puts traps in a library?

Remove all strains and Lingering Traumas

aiSummary* Nox investigates the Gilded Archive, encountering a woman from The Shattered Axis whose presence is deeply unsettling.

* He discovers evidence of ritualistic activity, including a shrine to a young boy that suggests the group may be researching Vas children.

* After triggering an explosive trap that summons a Luminous Goremaw, Nox engages in a difficult combat encounter.

* During the fight, he attempts to call upon Chase's Echo for help but fails, eventually using siphon magic to capture the creature at the cost of a mental wound.

* He uses the Phoenix Flame to heal his physical wounds, though the volatile magical surge causes structural damage to the library.